There is No Escape Editorial A - Center for Environmental Concerns
Transcription
There is No Escape Editorial A - Center for Environmental Concerns
FEED BACK ISSN 0117-0865 July-October 2006 PUBLISH ED BY THE C EN TER FOR EN VIRONMENT AL CONCERNS - PH ILIPPINES There is No Escape Editorial The Last Frontier: The Philippines, Marine Ecosystems and Biodiversity p. 2-3 Perils and Hopes: The Petron Oil Spill in Focus p. 6-9 year before the tragic oil spill in the well-protected Guimaras Island, an oil slick damaged hundreds of hectares of mangroves and shorelines in the Semirara Island in Antique. The latter did not receive as much media attention as did the Guimaras oil spill, but the destruction of the marine environment was likewise significant. A The government, however, does not appear to have learned its lesson, as it failed to implement policies that will ensure environmental protection in the face of capitalist interests. Regrettably, it remains negligent in implementing appropriate environmental rehabilitation programs and punishing the culprits led by oil giant Petron Corporation. As such, the Guimaras oil spill continues to traumatize a lot of Filipinos, especially the fisherfolk whose lives were drastically changed by the disaster. Never in our history have we witnessed a great devastation of our marine environment, characterized by the contamination of our treasured mangroves, seaweed farms, fish breeding and feeding areas and coral reefs. The village people have been inflicted with various illnesses and are now growing hungry because of the damage to aquatic and marine resources. Indeed, it will take a long time before their lives can return to normal again. Please turn to page 16. Towards a Pro-People Program for the Water Resources: A Critique of GMA’s Medium Term Development Plan p. 10-11 Assessing Oil Spills in the Philippines P. 12-14 FEED BACK 2 he Philippines is home to some of the world’s richest marine ecosystems, composed of extensive coral reefs, seagrass beds and dense mangrove forests. As the said biological habitats face the perils of environmental destruction, there is a need for urgent and efficient actions on the part of the government and the people. T twenty species of sea birds, five of sea turtles and seventeen of sea snakes also call the Philippines their home. Endangered biodiversity This rich heritage of biodiversity, however, is in grave danger. Nationwide surveys conducted since the 1970s up to the 1990s found that 31 percent of the total coral reefs in the country are in poor condition, and a recent study of fifty sites concluded that coral reef area coverBountiful marine age and reef fish resources abundance is rapidly Throughout declining. Another the archipelago, international survey there are over by the World Re26,000 square sources Institute in kilometers of 2002 found that the Philipcoral reefs, providing many indirect Coral reefs, mangrove forests and pines had the most degraded reefs of all benefits such as food, livelihood, protecsea-grass beds serve as homes for different sampled countries. This study estimated tion from erosion and sanctuary to numer- species of marine life forms. In the counthat 98 percent of Philippine reefs are at ous marine life forms. try, such habitats play a very important risk from human activity, with 70 percent Mangrove coverage amounted to role in maintaining ecological balance about 120,000 hectares in 1995. A recent since the number of species to be found in placed at a high or very high risk. Mangrove coverage area interpretation of satellite images in had likewise dwindled from around 2002 by the National Mapping and 450,000 hectares in 1918 to its preResource Information Agency sent size of 120,000 hectares. Many (NAMRIA) and the Forest Managemangrove forests have been conment Bureau (FMB) puts the manverted to aquaculture, salt producgrove coverage at 248,813 hectares, tion and human settlement. Converalthough this has yet to be verified sion to fishponds represents about on the ground. Mangroves protect 289,000 hectares of the losses noted coasts from storms, floods and eropreviously. The conversion of mansion and help purify water. In addigroves to fishponds results in overall tion, they are important feeding sites loss to productivity and fisheries for many types of marine life forms, production. including tilapia, eel, crabs, shrimps and prawns. Fishponds also pollute mangrove swamps with inorganic and Philippine marine and coastal areas are On the other hand, sea-grass organic fertilizers, chemical toxins and beds provide the immediate buffer neces- virtually unrivaled by any other place in antibiotics. In many cases, fishponds are the world. sary for coral reefs to protect the coasts owned by big companies that profit at the and mangroves from strong waves and Philippine waters are home to expense of small fisher folk. While the surges and for mangroves to protect reefs 488 species of hard stony corals and sixdemands for fish and fishery products from erosion and sedimentation. Sea-grass teen species of sea-grass. There are also have increased throughout the years, the beds also serve as feeding grounds for 4,706 species of fish and over two thouactual catch per unit effort (CPUE, a unit marine turtles and the highly endangered sand species of mollusks. Over ten thouto measure fish abundance) has been dedugong. In a recent study, 978 square sand species of other marine invertebrates clining according to the Bureau of Fisherkilometers of sea-grass beds have been also live in Philippine waters. In addition, ies and Aquatic Resources Philippine identified, mainly in the northwestern, twenty-six species of marine mammals, Fisheries Profile. western and southern Philippines. including the highly-endangered dugong, The Last Frontier: The Philippines, Marine Ecosystems and Biodiversity FEED BACK In fact, Danilo Israel and Cesar Banzon concluded in their study for the Economy and Environment Program for Southeast Asia that the marine fisheries sector is already overfished, especially by big commercial fishing corporations. In addition, although at present most of the fish catch go to local consumption, a large chunk of fish and fishery products goes to other countries and this continues to increase every year. Yet the government continues to ask for investments in the fisheries industry, particularly from foreign companies, suggesting a shortsightedness that does not bode well for conservation efforts. The Roots One would tend to think that most of these problems that imperil our waters and coastal resources are caused by communities living near the coasts and engaged in fishing and other activities that affect marine ecology. Improper waste disposal and unsafe and unsustainable practices, among others, do contribute to the decline of our marine biodiversity and it is quite necessary to educate and organize people engaged in municipal fishing in order for them to acquire the skills and knowledge necessary to contribute greatly to the sustainable development of our resources. What common fisherfolk and people in small-scale aquatic enterprises contribute to the degradation of our seas, however, pale in comparison to the damage done by large-scale profit-oriented enterprises. Large companies, many of them foreign-funded, continue to operate in the country without due regard to safe and sustainable environmental practices. 3 Coastal development, such as the construction of ports and resorts, and large-scale commercial fishing degrade and even destroy coral reefs, mangroves and sea-grass beds, depriving many marine life forms of their natural habitats. Add to these the increasing oil and gas explorations in deep waters especially in the Visayas and Palawan. Pollution from coal-fired power plants, industries, mining projects and oil spills have also caused great negative impact on marine ecology. A World Bank study in 2003 found that most, if not all, of the toxic and hazardous wastes discharged into water bodies come from industries, especially those whose waste disposal systems are directly linked to water bodies. Some 35% of fish catch comes from commercial fishing while only 29% comes from municipal, small-scale fishing. Though these figures are close, the rate of growth of commercial fishing entities is at least two times faster than that of municipal fishing. Commercial fishing companies engage in trawling and other practices that do not discriminate against fish fit for catching and those that are not, making the rate of fish catch higher than the rate it can replace itself. In addition, companies also engage in buying and selling, oftentimes illegally, of other marine life forms without regard to the impacts such an activity may bring on marine ecosystems and the environment as a whole. These problems are exacerbated by the government’s inability to impose protection laws, in part due to the fact that many government officials are also involved in the business or are local partners of foreign companies. Corruption is also a reason for the inability of the government to protect our marine resources. In addition, the number of personnel engaged in environmental protection work is inadequate compared to the sheer breadth of the job at hand. The Challenges If the current trends in marine and coastal degradation do not change, it is possible that we may face a future devoid of any marine ecosystems. Hence, the government faces the challenge of executing programs for the preservation of the marine resources such as promoting safe oil transport, eco-friendly tourism and responsible mining. Also, there is an urgent need to junk the laws such as the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998, Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act of 1997 and Mining Act of 1995 which support the liberalization of the said sectors without regard to the harmful impact on marine resources, among other natural resources. Such laws, among others, contain provisions which directly contradict environmental conservation principles while allowing the plunder of our natural resources. Meanwhile, the people are tasked to remain vigilant in demanding the proper implementation of environmentally -sound programs for marine resources. The people must wage such a struggle before they are the rich marine biodiversity is irreversibly damaged by big businesses. Only by working collectively can the people surmount the challenges faced by our environment and leave a strong, vibrant and still-rich environment for the generations to come. FEED BACK 4 Right. The Rapu-rapu waters are home to coral reefs, mangrove forests on the shoreline, rich sea grass beds and even five of the world's seven known marine turtles, purple herons, dolphins and whale sharks. Right. In June 2005, the Arroyo government signed a Mineral Production Sharing Agreement with Lafayette Philippines Inc., a wholly foreignowned subsidiary of the Australian-based Lafayette Mining Limited, Inc. Saving Paradise The Rapu-rapu Struggle for Life and National Patrimony Above. Dubbed as the Rapurapu Polymetallic Project, the Lafayette’s mining project is located in Barangays Malobago, Pagcolbon, and Binosawan. Left. The project involved open pit-mining. Potential effects of excavation and ore removal include destruction of plant and animal habitat, land subsidence, increased erosion, waste generation, heavy metal contamination of water systems and acid mine drainage (AMD). Right. Lafayette’s tailings control facility, i.e. twigs, tarpaulin and sacks, betrays what the company and Department of Environment and Natural Resources claimed as “state of the art” mining technology. Lafayette’s irresponsible mining caused two mine tailings spills on October 11 and 31, 2005 resulting to fish kills in Albay Gulf, left and damage to residents’ health, above. Due to public outrage, Arroyo convened the Rapu-rapu Fact-Finding Commission (RRFFC) which stated that Lafayette found the sea as “the most convenient dumping ground” for substances of high toxic quality such as cyanide and mercury used in the mining process. FEED BACK 5 Right and below. Representatives from the Church, academe, non-government organizations and militant groups from all over the Bicol region launched a mobilization in Legazpi City on June 15 to express their opposition to the reopening of Lafayette mining operations in Rapu-rapu. Left. The June 15 rally was convened by Sagip-Isla, AntiLafayette Mining Alliance (ALMA) in Albay, Alyansa Kontra Lafayette sa Sorsogon and UMALPAS KA (Ugnayan ng mga Mamamayan Laban sa Pangwawasak ng Kalupaan). The Lafayette Mining project has faced strong resistance from the people of Rapurapu, Bicol and the country, who have consistently opposed mining in the island, asserted their rights to land and resources and defended the local island’s fragile ecosystem. Left. Most Rev. Arturo Bastes, bishop of diocese of Sorsogon and head of RRFFC, expressed disappointment at the DENR’s decision to allow Lafayette to operate again. Photo from Arkibong Bayan. Above. On July 18, the Sagip Isla, Sagip Kapwa (Save the Island, Save the People) Rapu-rapu island-wide organization led a protest rally in the island. Right. To stop the Australian mining firm from pursuing a 30 day testrun, an application for Temporary Restraining Order and/or Permanent Injunction was filed at the Regional Trial Court of Makati City, Metro Manila on July 21 by 800 people from Rapu-rapu, Albay, and Metro Manila, including artists, lawyers, religious workers, actress ChinChin Gutierez and beauty queen Miriam Quiambao. FEED BACK 6 noon on the 10th of August, the ship made a 10-degree tilt. At around 4 o’clock in the afternoon just when the captain turned right to Iloilo, the ship leaned to its side badly and its head touched the sea. Soon enough it capsized and the captain could only order his crew to abandon the ship. About 17 miles southwest from Nueva Valencia, the crew The incident, by far the largest oil spill in Philippine wa- swam to the nearest shore while the MT Solar I was left sinking into the deep waters. All the crew except for two ters, became a cause for survived the tragic grave concern as event. both the Filipino peo- s far as the people of Guimaras were concerned, August 11, 2006 was a tragic day they will never forget, as the headline news reported a massive oil spill which spread through the beautiful marine sanctuary south of the Guimaras Island. A ple and the international community realized the clear peril and devastation it threatens to bring about to the country. Perils and Hopes: The Petron Oil Spill In Focus Later investigations revealed that some crew members had noted some peculiarities while the ship was traveling. A few noticed that the ship’s chain locker, which holds the anchor, was filling with water and even felt that the ship was starting to tilt to its side. However, these were only disregarded. Furthermore, the time of the departure was only a day after two succes- Initial findings of the Board of Marine Inquiry investigation showed that there have been lapses in ensuring the safety of the MT Solar I tanker which figured in the said mishap. It was found out that the certificate of the MT Solar I was way past its expiration date. Later, it was also revealed that Norberto Aguro, the captain sive typhoons hit the country. of the tanker, has not undergone any oil tanker training and The MT Solar I sunk about 10 nautical miles south of management and is not certified to navigate the ship. Guimaras Island. According to Efren Fabila, an engineer and environmental activist, about 200,000 A Disaster Which Could Have Been Avoided liters of bunker fuel were spilled off to the The MT Solar I was a locally registered 998-ton oil sea. The vessel is still hauler owned by the Sunshine Maritime Corporation and was contracted by the oil giant Petron Corporation to trans- lying 900 meters or port 2 million liters of bunker fuel to the Western Mindanao 2,950 feet deep at the seabed with about Power Corporation. 450,000 gallons of oil On the 9th of August, the tanker left Limay, Bataan and still in nine of its ten crossed the Visayan region to be able to reach Zamboanga compartments. (Manila Times, Aug. 2006). del Sur. While it was crossing the Iloilo strait at around QUICK FACTS An oil spill is a leakage of petroleum from an oil tanker or other vessel. It often refers to marine oil spills where oil is released into the ocean or coastal waters. The fate, behavior and environmental effects of spilled oil vary depending upon the type and amount of material spilled. MT Solar 1 carried bunker oil, a dense, sticky oil produced by blending heavy residual oils with a lighter oil to meet specific needs for thickness and pour point. Bunker oil is used in industrial burners worldwide, as well as in internal combustion engines of the compression-ignition type used by certain marine vessels. Generally, it spreads out rapidly across the water’s surface and forms a thin layer called an oil slick. FEED BACK 7 Serious Implications Before the oil spill, Guimaras Island was already celebrated for its popular pristine sand beaches and rich marine biodiversity. Its coastline measures 188.58 km long and its waters serve as a home to a wide variety of marine animal and plant species. Spinner, spotted, bottlenose and Risso’s dolphins, whales, and dugongs have also been sighted off the seas surrounding Guimaras. According to the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC), the Taklong National Marine Reserve has 29 genera of hard corals, 144 species of fish, seven species of seagrasses and three species of mangroves. This protected marine area has been the best for breeding and feeding almost all sorts of fishes. It has a total area of 1,143 hectares and serves as the Marine Biological Station After. Around 17,000 fishermen in the island had to find alternaof the Biological Division of the University of the Philippines tive work. The damage has reached several towns in the neighboring provinces of Negros Occidental and Iloilo. in the Visayan region. Other marine reserves in Guimaras are Sebaste Marine Reserve, the Nagarao, Nauai and For all the adverse impacts of the oil spill on the enviUsusan Marine Parks and the Toyo Reef Marine Protected ronment, the most affected sectors in the final analysis are Area. the people who lost their livelihood and whose health seriously suffers up to this day. Some 254 cases of respiratory illnesses and skin disorders were already reported last August 2006. Actions Not Enough At the onset of what Pres. Arroyo called a national calamity, the government created the Task Force Guimaras as an overseeing body for the clean up of the oil spill and the retrieval of some 1.8 million liters of fuel oil still inside the sunken tanker. Before. Guimaras folks relied on the bounty of the sea for their livelihood. More than 140 species of fish are spotted in the waters surrounding the island. After the oil spill, about 239 km of the island’s shoreline were covered with thick oil and grease. The affected mangrove area measures 1,128 hectares while destroyed seaweed farms have reached 58 hectares. According to NDCC in August 2006, the oil spill has affected three of the five municipalities of Guimaras. Among the barangays, Brgy. La Paz suffered the most. The oil spill has even reached two municipalities in Iloilo and another in Negros Occidental. As the oil continues to dissipate in the Guimaras Strait, the other two municipalities of Guimaras are threatened, including the twenty-nine barangays in Iloilo and nineteen barangays in Negros Occidental. Other marine reserves and parks may still be affected. Generally, oil contamination hinders the growth of phytoplanktons, a source of food for marine life. Oil can clog the gills of fishes, restraining them from feeding, growth and reproduction and increasing their susceptibility to diseases. The tissues of clams, oysters and other shells become swollen. Oil on coral reefs also decreases the colonization of corals. This was composed of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Transportation and Communication, Philippine Coast Guard, Department of Energy and Department of Health. Please turn to next page. In limbo. More than 1,000 workers were hired by Petron for P300 per day for the clean up operations. Residents report, however, that the hiring and paying were marked by irregularities. FEED BACK 8 Last October, Petron aborted its 45-day operation after declaring a successful clean up operation in some of the barangays in Nueva Valencia. But Petron is still being held accountable for this major mishap. Even the Task Force chair Rafael Coscolluela thinks that Petron still has to help in the clean up operations. The P42 million Oil Pollution Compensation Fund for the fishermen is still on hold, while affected fishermen still have to file claims in order to qualify for such compensation. According to Coscolluela, only about 13,000 claims were approved from a total 17,000 claims filed. Meanwhile, the national fisherfolk federation Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA) continues to urge Petron to pay a total of P10 billion in compensation for the damages caused by the oil spill. Center for Environmental Concerns Chairperson Dr. Damaged mangroves. An assessment report from Silliman Univer- Aloysius Baes who has conducted related studies on oils sity 19 days after the spill placed the potential annual losses from spills in Japan in the 1990s, said that in the absence of acfishery products due to damage to mangroves at 30 million pesos. tive efforts to scientifically remove the spill in affected areas, followed by bioremediation, the area would take more than a hundred years to fully recover. Meanwhile the peoMeanwhile the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) suspended the certificate of the Sunshine Maritime Corpo- ple are in grave risk of toxic contamination. ration and grounded the other tankers MT Solar II and III. However, Baes stressed that the most urgent Furthermore, the seafarer’s identification and qualification question is what to do with the sunken vessel or with the certificates of the officials and crew of the MT Solar I were remaining 1.8 million liters of oil still in it. suspended by MARINA. Clean up operations were already underway. Some 63 drums of chemical dispersants were used and about 2,339 sacks of debris were collected in August. It was reported that clean up operations have been accomplished in the barangays of Lacmayan, Igdarapdap and San Antonio in Nueva Valencia. More than 1,000 workers were hired by Petron for worth P300 per day for the clean up operations. Some 60 metric tons of debris were collected. The estimated cost of the clean up operations amounts to P2.2 million. These initial actions, however, are not enough to undo the damage caused by the oil spill, and the clean up operations still have a lot to accomplish. Four areas in Guimaras and two in Iloilo identified by DENR Regional Director Julian Amador needs to be checked again. Until now, oil and grease covers the coastal areas of Nueva Valencia. The amount of oil and grease in these areas has decreased to 10-20 milligrams per liter from the 250 milligram per liter during the onset of the oil spill. The actions must be speedy, because as time passes, grease sticks more and more to the rocks and mangroves. Alternative livelihood. At first, Petron’s hired workers were paid P100 daily, without the necessary protective gear. It was only later that boots, gloves, and cleaning pads were provided to the workers, upon warnings from the Department of Health. QUICK FACTS An assessment released by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) as of September 1 revealed that the following were badly affected: The damage to the mangroves, coral reefs, seagrasses, and estuaries—which are fish habitats—would cost Guimaras P8.3 billion worth of services. The tourism sector may lose an estimated seagrass: 12 hectares mangroves: 431.5 hectares P652.2 million this year because of the tragcorals: 30 hectares seaweeds: 58 hectares edy. coral reef: 15.8 sq. km. fishponds: 823.5 hectares FEED BACK 9 Meanwhile, some government officials seem to have easily forgotten the grave damage that the oil spill wrought. In an article featured in Guimaras Oil Spill News and Views, it was reported that Petron allegedly offered bribe money to some provincial board members to hold down pressures for them to address the issue. It has also reportedly spent public relations (PR) money to sanitize coverage of the oil spill. The Fight Goes On Marine life affected. Sea creatures exposed to crude oil become unfit for sale by acquiring oil-derived substances in tissues which impart unpleasant colors and flavors. In the face of sluggish government response, residents, barangay officials and church groups throughout Guimaras have taken it upon themselves to unite and work for the salvaging of the tanker, the rehabilitation of the affected areas, compensation for the victims of the oil spill, and ac- “The option of pumping out the oil in a sunken vessel is associated with many risks. The more appropriate procedure is to surface the sunken vessel as soon as possible, given the likely complications that will occur with the impending shift in the monsoon winds that would widen the area affected should there be a massive spillage of the remaining oil in the tanker,” he opined. However, the government has sunk into complacency after the partial removal of oil debris from the coastlines. To date, the sunken vessel which continues to discharge its cache of oil at the bottom of the sea has not been retrieved from the waters. About 30 percent of the oil sludge remains at the shores of Nueva Valencia. What Coscolluela only assures the public is that the government can think of appropriate measures should there be greater volume of oil leakage, claiming that the recovery operation will be finished by March 2007. Impact on health. Residents diagnosed with signs and symptoms related to the oil spill already swelled to 1,855 persons – 1,776 in Guimaras and 79 in Iloilo province. countability on the part of Petron. According to Antonio Chan, president of Parish Pastoral Church, they are saddened to hear statements that the Guimaras oil spill is already resolved. Yet this does not deter the residents of Guimaras from their quest for environmental justice. They continue to call for the boycott of Petron products in order to push Petron into completing the clean up operations in the affected areas. Church and environmental groups have also issued a manifesto demanding the total clean up of the oil spill by Petron. Living on rations. Residents depend on the government and private donors for food. One six-member family usually receives 7.5 kilograms of rice and six cans of sardines as ration for three days. As such efforts indicate, the quest to save their lives and seas shall be waged by the people of Guimaras in the days to come. Through such concerted efforts in the courts and in the streets, the people will see to it that Petron will not get away from its obligations to the people. They are even prepared to fight in courts and in the streets. They shall collectively bring forth hope for their beloved island. FEED BACK 10 Towards a Pro-People Program for the Water Resources: Critique of GMA’s Medium Term Development Plan Editor’s note: This article is part of MTDP, State of the Nation Address (SONA) 2006 and the Philippine Environment , a paper published by CECPhils. in anticipation of GMA’s SONA last July. For this issue on Oil Spills, we are reprinting only the introduction and specific discussion on the implications of MTDP on freshwater, coastal and marine resources. The full article may be accessed in our website, www.cec.org. figures in the MTDP and its actual implementation. This assessment in time for the SONA 2006 is a tacit recognition of lopsided priorities in economic growth, and an attempt to explain why genuine development and protection of our patrimony are far-fetched in the administration under GMA. The true state of the Philippine environment The Philippine environment is our o we fare better with two entire natural world on which depends years of the Medium Term an exchange of biological, physical and Development Plan (MTDP 2004chemical factors through ecological 2010)? After dismissing the Philipprocesses. These processes ensure but pine environment in the past two affect the flow of energy, materials and State of the Nation Addresses information across communities, spe(SONAs), will the SONA 2006 of- cies and ecosystems – traversing our fer a promising or sorry state? small but archipelagic formation with With the bounty of our natural unique land forms and bodies of waresources considered as the driver of ter. economic growth, it is apt to review No less than the Department of how the Philippine environment truly Environment and Natural Resources D reiterated the country’s abundance in its resources, but it also presented a dismal assessment of the status of the Philippine environment. Day-to-day realities in its multifarious aspects confirm the true state of the environment. Freshwater resources are similar to coastal and marine ecosystems which are all crucial in the water cycle but they are also habitats of species of plants and animals that are for our survival. The country has bountiful freshwater resources. Four hundred twenty one principal rivers, 69 lakes, over 100,000 hectares of freshwater swamps and four major groundwater reservoirs astride four major river basins have a combined total area of about 50,000 square kilometers. Water for domestic and industrial use as well as riparian species are ideally ensured. Yet, the freshwater sources have very poor status. None of the water in 158 major rivers is safe for drinking. FEED BACK Sixteen rivers have been classified as biologically dead, while 51% of all water bodies classified by the EMB are polluted and do not meet effluent standards. There are 140 priority watersheds reported to be degraded, indicative of the seriousness of the forestry sector. Water for domestic use is not accessible to 35% of Filipinos especially in urban areas, except in a highly privatized set up. Even freshwater for irrigation cannot be ensured by the government for the agricultural communities. Neglect of the watersheds because of extractive industries like mining and logging is the most serious cause of this status, worsened by mismanagement and local landlords as well as businessmen in commercial fisheries and tourism. Direct waste dumping into rivers and other bodies of water is considered as the primary cause of water pollution. Although, according to EMB studies, domestic waste comprise the bulk of sediment load in water bodies and river systems, industrial and agribusiness wastes and large-scale extractive activities like mining, logging and dam construction more permanently damage freshwater resources. Coastal and marine ecosystems, meanwhile, are the important sources of livelihood for as much as 70% of municipalities (80% of the Philippine territory), the base of inter-island exchanges in aquatic products as well as tourism, and habitats (like coral reefs and mangroves) of many species. Serious threats in these ecosystems are poaching by big fishing companies that include foreigners, destructive fishing, and tourism. As much as 32% of the coral reefs are already poor (with 0-25% cover) and 44% are presently under high threat from sedimen- 11 tation, destructive fishing methods, pollution and coastal infrastructure development (Sec. E. Gozun, 3rd Public Lecture Series, UP Diliman, March 2004). Biodiversity losses are indicated by reduced sea grass 50%) and mangroves (73%) as critical habitats. The extent of environmental degradation nationwide has fast brought the freshwater, coastal and marine resources as urgent environmental concerns. These resources are also the targets of GMA’s recent Executive Order No. 533 in 2006 which adopts an Integrated Coastal Management (ICM). Yet, the same coastal resources to be enhanced for sustainable livelihood and protection are the competitors of toxic wastes, eroded soils and waste dumps from the officially supported extractive industries of foreign and local monopoly corporation. Effects on the Filipino people Majority of the Filipino people are seriously disadvantaged by an economic growth through large scale mining by foreign companies, privatized energy sector, and elite-controlled enterprise development. Forests are denuded and soils are eroded when cleared for industrial operations. Watersheds are degraded by mine tailings and dumped wastes. Rivers, coasts and marine waters get contaminated by toxic wastes. Plants and animals on which we survive are lost. As a result, communities have damaged health, destroyed livelihoods and shattered lives. As much as 80% of Filipino households are marginalized in the privatized use and control of freshwater, coastal and marine resources by foreign and local businessmen. Companies extract and supply water alone, with no regard for watershed management. They extract energy for commercial distribution, with no regard for upland forests and marine resources. Aquatic species are overharvested for export, regardless of fish-kills, poaching and destructive practices. Fisherfolks have declining catch for their own subsistence. Degraded environments in the rural areas push poor households to eke short-term and unstable livelihood sources and employment, even in over-extractive and harmful industries. Foreign monopoly control and dominance by the local political elite push many Filipinos to bargain for their sustenance. Marginalized in the present reality, Filipinos persist to survive despite the deteriorating economic difficulties. Worse, unstable settlements result in urban sprawl and congestion where air and water quality are grossly going downhill. These effects of the GMA administration on the Philippine environment are worsening. The 10-point legacy foretells a grim situation, with devastated ecosystems that will not sustain any growth, despite the legalese of the MTDP or the SONA. “Companies extract and supply water alone, with no regard for watershed management. They extract energy for commercial distribution, with no regard for upland forests and marine resources…” FEED BACK 12 n a country of archipelagic characteristics – with one of the longest coastlines in the world amounting to 36,289 square kilometers and more than seven thousand islands – sea vessels provide a significant means of transportation. This makes the Philippines vulnerable to oil spills which greatly affect the marine ecosystems and the lives of the people. Sadly, the Philippine government has not implemented a concrete policy for oil spill prevention and rehabilitation. Until the Guimaras oil spill occurred, little did the Filipinos know that in the country, maritime authorities allow hazardous petroleum products to be shipped in decrepit, secondhand tankers, smuggled or transferred to another vessel at mid-sea. Moreover, it has not promulgated laws regarding proper oil shipment and for penalizing entities responsible for oil spills. South harbor alone there have been eight counts of oil spills. Further, in the said 11-year period, there have been 12 occurrences of oil spill involving a volume of 203,366 liters and 28 barrels. Meanwhile, Pasig River, a major tributary leading to the Manila Bay, is one of the most passed rivers. There have been 16 incidents of oil spills in this river, consisting of a total volume of 17,300 liters contributing Vector with thousands of gallons of petroleum collided with passenger liner MV Doña Paz in the waters near Marinduque, killing at least 4,000 passengers and crew. Upon inquiry of the Philippine Coast Guard, it was found out that the tanker may have traveled without navigational lights making it difficult for the passenger ship to detect the tanker on radar. In March 1999, almost 110,000 gallons of oil were spilled on around 79 acres when oil tanker Sea Brothers I crashed into the raging waters of Manila Bay injuring the seven crew members. It was reported that the ship collided with two Petron tankers. This 29year-old Sulpicio Lines-owned ship named Princess of the Orient was pounded by the ravaging sea on the 19th of September 1998. It came from Cebu and as it arrived in Manila Bay it became vulnerable to the strong winds and typhoon. Oil Slick at the Most of the oil it Bay carried spilled to Manila the Manila Bay Bay, one of the and about 51 finest natural people were reharbors in the ported dead. world, is not More new to such spills. With an entrance to its filth and blackness. recently, last December 18, 2005, the width of 19 to 48 kilometers, it serves Power Barge 105 of the National as the port of Manila on Luzon that Ship mishaps and oil spills Power Corporation carrying 800,000 stretches to provinces like Bataan, Incidents involving ship mishaps liters of bunker fuel ran aground 200 Cavite, Pampanga and Bulacan. contribute largely to the pollution of meters off the shores of Sitio Bobog, From 1990 to 2001, there have the bodies of water with oil discharge Semirara Island in the municipality of been 26 accounts of sea-based oil volumes reaching as high as 200,000 Caluya in Antique. Some 210,000 lispills in Manila Bay and its tributaries. to 747,000 liters, per incident. These ters were spilled and affected 113 Being two of the busiest ports, the involve MT Mary Anne, MV Princess of hectares of shoreline and 236 hecSouth and North Harbors of Manila Bay the Orient and the MT Fernando J-1. tares of mangroves. Please turn to page 14. have been very prone to oil spills. In In 1987, for example, the MT I Assessing Oil Spills FEED BACK 13 Table 1. List of Oil Spills in the Philippines(1990-2006)* Source Date Oil Product Spilled Area Affected Quantity MT Fernando J-1 24 Jan 1990 Industrial fuel oil Lamao. Limay, Bataan 200,000 liters MV Al Taludi 2 Aug 1990 Bunker oil Manila 2,100 liters Bataan Refinery 22 Oct 1990 Bunker oil Limay, Bataan 5 barrels MV Carlota 8 Mar 1991 Oily water Mariveles, Bataan 1,050 liters MT Ivy 5 Apr 1991 Industrial fuel oil Lamao, Limay, Bataan 20 barrels Mt Nazal-I 20 Dec 1991 Auto diesel Pier 8, Manila 10,500 liters SeaOil Petroleum 2 Sept 1992 Bunker oil Manila 420 liters MT Bacolod City 22 Sept 1992 Bunker oil Manila 100 liters PBRC 19 Apr 1994 Bunker oil Limay, Bataan 420 liters Petro Queen 8 Aug 1994 Bunker oil Manila Bay 670 barrels Discovery Industrial Corp. 13 Aug 1994 Bunker oil Pasig River 600 liters MV Cebu City 2 Dec 1994 Bunker oil Manila Bay 3,000 liters Allied Thread Co. 11 Jan 1995 Bunker oil Marikina River 400 liters Rockwell Asahi Glass Puyat Steel Corp 17 Jan 1995 Bunker oil Pasig River 63,000 liters 3 Mar 1995 Bunker oil Pasig River 70 liters MT Pandi 12 May 1995 Industrial fuel oil Limay, Bataan 500 liters MV Wilcon X 22 Sept 1995 Bunker oil Pier 18, Manila 2,000 liters MT Pacific Leader 22 July 1996 Crude oil Limay, Bataan 76 liters MT Malinao 4 Aug 1996 Industrial fuel oil Limay, Bataan 3 barrels SeaOil Petroleum 8 Aug 1996 Bunker oil Pasig River 400 liters MV Badger 14 Aug 1996 Bunker oil North Harbor 38 liters OTC Barge Brazil 3 June 1997 Oily mixture Pasig River 800 liters MV Princess of the Orient 21 Sept 1998 Bunker oil Corregidor 500,000 liters MT Sea Brothers I 19 March 1999 Bunker oil South Harbor, Manila 420 tons MT Mary Anne 1 June 1999 Bunker oil Limay, Bataan 747 tons MT Christian Alber 4 Jan 2000 Bunker oil 400 liters MV NOL Schedar 2 Feb 2000 Industrial fuel oil Pier 4, South Harbor, Manila Lingayen Gulf People’s Technological Complex MV Island Explorer 10 June 2001 Bunker oil Carmona-Biñan River 800 liters 19 January 2004 Bunker fuel Apo Manor Reef 80,000 liters Power Barge 105 18 Dec 2005 Bunker fuel 210,000 liters MT Solar I of Petron Corp. 11 Aug 2006 Bunker oil Semirara Island, Antique Iloilo Strait 10,000 liters 500,000 liters * sources: Philippine Coast Guard Report, 2000; Oil Spill History from http://www.marinergroup.com/oil-spill-history.htm 14 Last November, congressmen passed the bill that would enforce international rules that will make ship owners accountable for the damages of the oil spills, and ensure fast Oil Spill Bill and sufficient Despite the long and misercompensation able history of oil spills in the Philip- for the afpine waters, only following the Guifected parties. This bill also obligates maras oil spill, regarded by the inter- haulers of oil in the country to connational community as the worst oil tribute to the International Oil Polluslick the country has ever had, did tion Compensation Fund (IOPC Fund) President Arroyo finally certify an oil which covers for admissible claims. It spill prevention bill as urgent. also prohibits ships loaded with more According to Pres. Spokesper- than 2,000 tons of oil to enter the son Ignacio Bunye, the House Bill 4363 Philippine waters without valid finanor the Oil Pollution Compensation Act cial securities. would impose strict maritime regulations and facilitate the acquisition of The Truth modern facilities to do clean ups. Investigations by concerned environmental groups point out to the negligence, corruption and mismanagement in the government and irresponsibility on the part of Petron as the cause of the Guimaras tragedy. FEED BACK continued from page 12 Fifty-six hectares of the 236 were the mangrove project of the Semirara Mining Corporation while 80 hectares of reforested mangroves were administered by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). The 100 hectares were naturally grown mangroves. Clean up was facilitated through dispersants, but until now, scientists report that the oil sludge has not been completely removed. The Arroyo administration’s responses which were but palliative ones, including a declaration that Guimaras is in a state of calamity, and delivering relief goods to the suffering people reveal the lack of sincerity on the part of the government in seriously addressing the issue of corporate liability. Until now, the sunken tanker has not been recovered from the ocean’s depths. People are still hungry, with their main source of livelihood damaged by the spill. The oil slick remains in the affected area, subsequently affecting the safety of food sources as the contamination of biological food chain is proceeding. More importantly, Petron, Sunshine Maritime Corporation and government agencies responsible for the oil spill have not been held accountable for their action and neglect. In the end, it would take a government with the political will, and a group of united, determined people, to eventually punish culprits of environmental disasters and promote genuine environmental protection and rehabilitation. “Despite the long and miserable history of oil spills in the Philippine waters, only following the Guimaras oil spill, regarded by the international community as the worst oil slick the country has ever had, did President Arroyo finally certify an oil spill prevention bill as urgent.” FEED BACK 15 Save our Lives, Save our Seas!* A DECLARATION OF UNITY We bonded ourselves and unite to extend support, in whatever form, for our beloved brothers and sisters whose lives and daily economic activities have been devastated by the M/T Solar 1 Oil Spill in the Island of Guimaras and affected others coastal areas of Panay and Negros Occidental. We recognize the urgent need to extend relief assistance to the affected families since fishing as their livelihood is already gone. The oil slick has already damaged a variety of aquatic and marine resources, economically displacing the small fisherfolks who are dependent on fishing activities. Panay Gulf and other bodies of water reached by the oil sludge are known to be rich fishing grounds in the archipelago. Hence, we call on the people responsible for this worst oil spill in the history of the country to be held liable for the damages. We hold Petron and SMDC liable for this oil spill. Their effort to maximize their super profits placed the lives of people and the environment in peril. Petron amassed a whooping P2.7B in the first six months of this year as their net income. But, it is still capable of hiring oil tankers that are substandard and converted vessels to transport huge volume of bunker fuel. On the other hand, it also took days for them to immediately and properly respond for the containment of the oil spill that continuously wreak havoc to the lives of the people in Guimaras, Iloilo Province and Negros Occidental. Worst, there is no definite time for the immediate retrieval of the sunken vessel that still have 90% of its 2M liters bunker fuel cargo which continue to spew fuel to the sea at a rate of 200-250 liters per hour, moving at 0.5 miles a day. The Philippines under the Arroyo dispensation must also be accountable for this tragic accident. As early as 1993 international law required the immediate phase out of single –hulled oil tankers and only double-hulled tankers be allowed to ship heavy grade oil such as bunker fuel to prevent oil pollution. M/T Solar 1 is a single-hulled oil tanker and is very vulnerable to oil spill accidents yet the Arroyo government allowed it to transport oil and ply the Philippine seas. The Philippine government as member of International Maritime Organization (IMO), an international body who legislate international maritime laws for the protection of marine environment and human lives has the crucial responsibility to strictly implement international laws to prevent sea accidents and marine pollution such as oil spill. We are also dismayed of the snail –paced and lax response of the Arroyo government for this crisis. It almost took more than a week for the Arroyo government to set up a task force and allocate P20M for immediate relief and clean up. Mrs. Arroyo should have immediately responded the emergency call instead of relying to local government and agencies which are not well equipped in responding to such disaster. The government doesn’t have the emergency disaster contingency plan for oil spill accident knowing that the Philippines is an archipelagic country and 90% of its goods are transported by sea. We therefore commit ourselves for the following immediate and long term solutions for the relief and rehabilitation of the victims and the prevention of more oil spills in the future. 1. The Arroyo government, Petron and SMDC must give more funds for the immediate relief assistance to all the affected families 2. Medical assistance and other health preventive measures must be provided to those who were affected by the oil spill. 3. Immediate actions to solve the threat of more oil spills from the remaining bunker fuel of the sunken M/T Solar I to prevent further environmental damages, economic devastation and loss of lives. 4. The Petron and SMDC shoulder the expenses for clean up operations and provide protective gears and health insurances to those involved in the clean-up. 5. The Arroyo government must immediately and strictly implement international maritime laws for shipping companies to prevent more oil pollution and other sea accidents that damage human lives and marine resources. 6. Petron and SMDC must shoulder the expenses for the rehabilitation and indemnification efforts of the affected population. *SAVE OUR LIVES, SOS Panay and Guimaras is a broad alliance of of nongovernment organizations, scientists, academe, legislators, artists, students, medical students and practitioners, church people and local communities who joined hands and committed themselves in addressing the issues caused by the Guimaras oil spill. Member organizations: Madiaas Ecological Movement (MEM). Provincial Councilors’ League (PCL) – Iloilo Chapter. Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI). Ilonggo Concerned Artists for the Environment (I-CARE). Alliance of Health Workers (AHW). Asian Medical Students Association (AMSA). Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN). Promotion of Church People’s Response (PCPR)– Panay & Guimaras. Kapatirang Simbahan Para sa Bayan (KASIMBAYAN). Filamer Christian College (Roxas City). Center for Relief, Rehabilitation, Education & Economic Development (CRREED). Y-Defend. Migrante. PAMALAKAYA. Samahan ng Nagtataguyod ng Agham at Teknolohiya Para sa Sambayanan (AGHAM). Center for Environmental Concerns (CEC). Kalikasan People’s Network for Environment (KPNE). People’s Response for the Protection of the Environment (PROTECT). Western Visayas Ecumenical Council (WVEC). Taga-ATON Cultural Artists Radio Mindanao Network – Iloilo. Artista kag Manunulat nga Makibanwahanon (AMBON). John B. Lacson Colleges Foundation. FEED BACK 16 Editorial continued from page 1 It took the Arroyo government a week to take actions regarding the spill, which included an order to form a task force and a statement placing the Guimaras Island in “a state of calamity.” Following the investigations, the MT Solar I captain and the crew members were suspended, while the other tankers of Sunshine Maritime Corporation have been prohibited from all operations. Petron promised to give compensations to the fishermen, and to initiate the clean up operations which are targeted to be finished by March 2007. Arroyo, for her part, promised that it will never happen again, as if the tragic story ends there. Make a difference! In line with CEC’s renewed stress on its volunteer program, the Center for Environmental ConcernsPhilippines is inviting all interested parties an individuals to become CEC volunteers. If you are looking for ...opportunities to directly witness and be of service to environmentally stressed communities ...opportunities to develop you knowledge on the environment and hone your skills in research, education, community development and the like ...ways to help educate the greater public on the issues of the environment and find appropriate solutions to pressing problems ...ways to help mobilize resources and other people in the work for the protection and regeneration of the environment ...Be a CEC volunteer and make a difference! Interested parties may contact Peter Benaires or Mike Llanes through email: [email protected] or via telephone no. (02) 920-9099. Not surprisingly, the government has been trying to evade the question regarding its culpability for the tragedy. It must be noted, however, that what transpired in Guimaras is a result of the government’s faulty economic policies which do not prioritize the interests of the people. Remarkably, it is only after the Guimaras oil spill that a law is being legislated to ensure the protection of our marine environment and hold the big multinational corporations liable whenever a spill occurs. This, despite the fact that the Philippines is prone to such incidents. In the end, the tragedy in Guimaras island is a manifestation of what the government prioritizes: the interest of big foreign businesses – including oil cartels – which have little concern as to the environmental impact of their activities. Under its policies of deregulation, privatization and liberalization, such companies have gained much political– economic leverage such that an oil spill is dealt with in a manner that forgives and forgets the serious crime Petron has committed. But the people must not and shall not let these culprits escape. Justice will be served, so long as the people unite in the struggle for the environment, which is also a struggle for freedom from capitalist greed. FEED BACK CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS-PHILIPPPINES P.O. Box 1212-1152, QCCPO Quezon City, Philippines Feedback is a quarterly publication of the Center for Environmental Concerns-Philippines (CEC-Phils.) CEC-Philippines is a non-government organization promoting people-oriented environmental education, research and volunteer work among the masses and for the masses of the Filipino people. CEC holds office at 26 Matulungin St., Central District, Quezon City, Philippines Tel. No: (632) 924-8756. Telefax: (632) 920-9099. Email: [email protected]. Website: www. cec.org